Charles Todd Books in Order: Ian Rutledge, Bess Crawford & More

Reading Charles Todd books in order gets a little tricky because there are two major historical mystery series, a few short stories, and a couple of companion pieces mixed in. The Ian Rutledge books follow a Scotland Yard inspector after World War I, while the Bess Crawford books follow a battlefield nurse during and after the war.

I’d start with publication order within each series. The mysteries usually stand on their own, but the character arcs matter, especially with Rutledge’s trauma and Bess’s wartime experience.

Jump to:

• Inspector Ian Rutledge Books
• Bess Crawford Books
• Charles Todd Standalone Novels & Short Stories
• Charles Todd Short Story Collections
• Charles Todd Anthologies
• Who Is Charles Todd?

Inspector Ian Rutledge Books

Inspector Ian Rutledge is a Scotland Yard detective trying to return to civilian life after the trenches of World War I. His cases are traditional mysteries on the surface, but the heart of the series is Rutledge himself, especially the guilt, grief, and shell shock he carries home from the war.

Inspector Ian Rutledge Books in Publication Order

I’d read the Ian Rutledge books in publication order first. The chronological order is interesting for rereads, but publication order is the better way to meet Rutledge and understand how the series builds for first-time readers.

1. A Test of Wills (1996)
2. Wings of Fire (1998)
3. Search the Dark (1999)
4. Legacy of the Dead (2000)
5. Watchers of Time (2001)
6. A Fearsome Doubt (2002)
7. A Cold Treachery (2005)
8. A Long Shadow (2006)
9. A False Mirror (2007)
10. A Pale Horse (2007)
11. A Matter of Justice (2008)
12. The Red Door (2009)
13. The Kidnapping (2010) (Short Story)
14. A Lonely Death (2011)
15. The Confession (2012)
16. Proof of Guilt (2013)
17. Cold Comfort (2013) (Short Story)
18. Hunting Shadows (2014)
19. A Fine Summer’s Day (2015)
20. No Shred of Evidence (2016)
21. A Guid Soldier (2016) (Short Story)
22. Racing the Devil (2017)
23. The Piper (2017) (Short Story)
24. The Gate Keeper (2018)
25. The Black Ascot (2019)
26. A Divided Loyalty (2020)
27. A Fatal Lie (2021)
28. A Game of Fear (2022)
29. Have a Drink on Me (2024) (Short Story in Back in Black)
30. A Christmas Witness (2025) (Novella)
31. A Day of Judgment (2026)

Inspector Ian Rutledge Books in Chronological Order

I don’t recommend chronological order for a first read. Start with A Test of Wills if you’re new to Rutledge. But once you already know the series, the timeline is interesting because several later stories jump back before the main postwar sequence.

The biggest shift is at the beginning. A Fine Summer’s Day and a few short stories happen before Rutledge returns to Scotland Yard after the war.

1. A Fine Summer’s Day June 1914
2. The Piper (Short Story)
3. Cold Comfort (Short Story)
4. A Guid Soldier (Short Story)
5. Have a Drink on Me April 1916 (Short Story)
6. A Test of Wills June 1919
7. Wings of Fire July 1919
8. Search the Dark August 1919
9. Legacy of the Dead September 1919
10. Watchers of Time October 1919
11. A Fearsome Doubt November 1919
12. A Cold Treachery December 1919
13. A Long Shadow January 1920
14. A False Mirror March 1920
15. A Pale Horse April 1920
16. A Matter of Justice May 1920
17. The Red Door June 1920
18. The Kidnapping (Short Story)
19. A Lonely Death July 1920
20. The Confession August 1920
21. Proof of Guilt September 1920
22. Hunting Shadows
23. No Shred of Evidence
24. Racing the Devil
25. The Gate Keeper
26. The Black Ascot
27. A Divided Loyalty
28. A Fatal Lie
29. A Game of Fear Spring 1921
30. A Day of Judgment July 1921
31. A Christmas Witness December 1921 (Novella)

Bess Crawford Books

Bess Crawford is a British nurse serving during World War I. Her stories have a different feel from Rutledge’s because Bess is usually closer to the war itself, both through her nursing work and through the soldiers, families, and secrets she encounters.

I’d read Bess Crawford in publication order too. The timeline is mostly straightforward, but the short stories and companion pieces make it easier to get turned around than you’d expect.

Bess Crawford Books in Publication Order

1. A Duty to the Dead (2009)
2. The Girl on the Beach (2010) (Short Story in Tales)
3. An Impartial Witness (2010)
4. A Bitter Truth (2011)
5. An Unmarked Grave (2012)
6. The Walnut Tree (2012) (Companion Novella)
7. A Question of Honor (2013)
8. An Unwilling Accomplice (2014)
9. The Maharani’s Pearls (2014) (Short Story)
10. A Pattern of Lies (2015)
11. The Shattered Tree (2016)
12. A Casualty of War (2017)
13. A Forgotten Place (2018)
14. A Cruel Deception (2019)
15. A Hanging at Dawn (2020) (Short Story)
16. An Irish Hostage (2021)
17. The Cliff’s Edge (2023)
18. Gentleman from New Orleans (2025) (Short Story in Blood on the Bayou: Case Closed)

Bess Crawford Books in Chronological Order

For a first read, I’d still stick with publication order. The chronological list is more useful once you already know Bess and want to see how the wartime timeline fits together.

The prequel short stories come first, then the main novels largely move forward through the war and its aftermath.

1. The Maharani’s Pearls (Short Story)
2. A Hanging at Dawn (Short Story)
3. The Walnut Tree 1914 (Companion Novella)
4. A Duty to the Dead November 1916
5. The Girl on the Beach (Short Story)
6. An Impartial Witness Summer 1917
7. A Bitter Truth December 1917
8. An Unmarked Grave Spring 1918
9. A Question of Honor Summer 1918
10. An Unwilling Accomplice Autumn 1918
11. A Pattern of Lies 1918
12. The Shattered Tree Autumn 1918
13. A Casualty of War November 1918
14. A Forgotten Place March 1919
15. A Cruel Deception Spring 1919
16. An Irish Hostage 1919
17. The Cliff’s Edge 1919

Charles Todd Standalone Novels & Short Stories

These sit outside the Ian Rutledge and Bess Crawford reading orders. I’d save them for later unless one of the premises grabs you right away.

1. The Murder Stone (2003) (Standalone Novel)
2. The Pretty Little Box (2019) (Short Story)

Charles Todd Short Story Collections

This collection is handy if you want the Rutledge and Bess Crawford short stories together instead of tracking down each short piece separately.

1. Tales: Short Stories Featuring Ian Rutledge and Bess Crawford (2015) (Collection)

Charles Todd Anthologies

These anthologies are more for completionists than casual readers. I wouldn’t start here, but they’re worth noting if you want the broader Charles Todd checklist.

1. Mystery Writers of America Presents Death Do Us Part (2006) (Anthology)
2. A Study in Sherlock (2011) (Anthology)
3. Death Knell V (2016) (Anthology)
4. Silent Night, Deadly Night (2016) (Anthology)
5. Odd Partners (2019) (Anthology)
6. Back in Black (2024) (Anthology, includes “Have a Drink on Me”)
7. Blood on the Bayou: Case Closed (2025) (Anthology, includes a Bess Crawford short story)

Who Is Charles Todd?

Charles Todd is the pen name used by Caroline Todd and her son, Charles Todd. Together, they created the Ian Rutledge and Bess Crawford mysteries, two historical mystery series tied closely to World War I and its aftermath.

Caroline Todd died in 2021, and Charles Todd has continued the Rutledge series. The books still work best when you treat Ian Rutledge and Bess Crawford as separate series, then use the short stories and companion pieces once you already know which world you want more of.

Looking for similar books in order?

If you want more mystery authors and reading-order guides like this one, start with my Mystery Books in Order index.

• Books in Order (Full Index)
• Maisie Dobbs Books in Order
• Inspector Lynley Books in Order
• Charles Finch Books in Order